COVID At-Home Testing Kit Disposal
Properly disposal of COVID-19 waste is essential to prevent the spread of the virus and protect public health. Here are some guidelines for disposing of COVID-19 waste:
- Segregate the waste: Separate the COVID-19 waste from other waste at the point of generation.
- Double-bag the waste: Put the COVID-19 waste in a plastic bag and then put that bag into another plastic bag.
- Label the bags: Label the bags with the word “COVID-19” or “infectious waste” to alert waste handlers that the contents are potentially hazardous.
- Store the bags: Store the bags of COVID-19 waste in a secure location until they can be collected for disposal.
- Dispose of the waste: Arrange for proper disposal of COVID-19 waste. This may include incineration or treatment at a specialized medical waste facility.
It’s important to follow these guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect public health. Please click here for more information and pricing on commercial waste.
Colour coded bins |
Yellow |
Red |
Orange |
Purple |
White |
Blue |
Yellow & Black |
Black |
Infectious waste to be disposed of immediately |
Anatomical waste (hazardous and non-hazardous) |
Infectious waste which is sent for treatment |
Cytostatic and cytotoxic medicinal products such as sharps |
Dental waste |
Medicinal waste such as part empty containers,out of date medicine etc |
Non-infectious/hazardous hygiene waste |
|
Home Testing Kit Disposal: Guidelines
The guidelines for disposing of COVID-19 at-home testing kits differ depending on where the waste is generated. In some states, such as Delaware, the test kits must be disposed of as medical waste. For example, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control directs schools to place the used test materials in red bags and mark them with a biohazard symbol. These bags must be stored away from humans and in areas protected from moisture, weather, and insects.
When the test materials are no longer needed, they must be discarded as a biohazard, and the state requires schools to keep a manifest for at least three years. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, residents must follow the instructions on the kits and any regulations related to COVID-19 waste disposal. The COVID-19 rapid antigen test kits are generally not considered hazardous waste, according to the guidelines in Ottawa and Calgary.
The kits usually include an extraction tube, buffer bottle, swab packaging, and testing device, and using a double bag for the COVID-19 at-home testing kits are also recommended.
There are three types of certified COVID-19 at-home testing kits:
- Abbot’s Panbio COVID-19 antigen self-test,
- Labnovation Technologies’ COVID-19 antigen self-test
- and Geiten Biotech’s one-step test for SARS-COV-2.
Sheeler explains that gauze used to treat wounds or bandages is a biomedical waste. Although sodium azide is safe to ingest, the chemical is not recommended to be disposed of in the bathroom. It is a colourless, odourless, aqueous compound commonly found in detonators, car airbags, and other products. Health Canada recommends that consumers properly dispose of COVID-19 at-home testing kits to avoid exposure to harmful chemical levels.
- When disposing of COVID-19 at-home testing kits, always dispose of them in a medical waste-management facility.
- If liquid enters the eye, immediately flush the affected eye with water or saline. If the liquid remains, call 999.
- In any case, please read the instructions on the COVID-19 at-home testing kits before utilizing them.
Home Testing Kit Disposal: Biohazards
They can represent the presence of any transmissible pathogen. However, it is not always possible to identify all the bloodborne pathogens in people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, used PPE from the testing industry has started to enter the recycling stream. But the CDC advises that medical waste from laboratories should be disposed of as biohazards, so the test kits must be disposed of properly. Rules on how to dispose of waste vary by state, so check with your local health department or the COVID task force for details.
Moreover, it is essential to note that medical, and commercial waste from hospitals and other healthcare facilities must be appropriately disposed of. Since LFD testing kits are non-recyclable, they should be disposed of by incineration with energy recovery. LFD wastes can be disposed of in a landfill without energy recovery. But practical constraints may prevent the application of waste hierarchy. So, the appropriate disposal method for LFD wastes is mixed with a general waste stream or energy-from-waste facilities.
For these waste streams, the manufacturer’s instructions are required. The COVID pandemic has been a public health crisis, creating massive medical garbage. These items include test kits, gloves, masks, and syringes. The World Health Organization estimated that the problem was global and particularly severe in poorer countries, where people burn medical waste in decrepit incinerators without pollution controls.
The World Health Organisation’s recommendation is to develop a national policy on medical waste disposal. COVID tests must be handled as hazardous commercial waste according to government guidelines. According to state laws, COVID-19 waste must be separated from other waste. The removal of COVID test kits follows proper guidelines, including wearing protective equipment (PPE) gear and documenting every process step.
There are also different state regulations regarding data storage. If the COVID tests were performed at home, they could be disposed of in a general waste bin.
Home Testing Kit Disposal: Swab Disposal
Recently, COVID at-home test kits have become popular, as these devices can detect the presence of the more contagious strain omicron. However, the swabs used in these tests must be disposed of properly. Instead of throwing them away, they should be wrapped in plastic bags before being disposed of in the trash.
The same holds for used respiratory masks, gloves, and respirators. You can discard the card and swab it in your regular commercial waste bin if a negative test results. If a test is positive, however, you need to dispose of all the other components of the test kit in a biohazard container. The test kit and the swabs should be disposed of according to the regulated guidelines for medical waste disposal. According to the CDC, tests from the lab should be treated as biohazardous waste.
However, regulations on how to dispose of these items differ by state. For questions, contact your local health department or the COVID task force or visit the Veolia commercial waste website. It’s important to note that the waste from this kit contains biological material from the nose. Ideally, the swabs should be disposed of in neutral bags, preventing contamination by bacteria.
- You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions when disposing of the COVID test kit. Alternatively, you can reuse the swabs as markers in a garden or pot.
- The lateral flow test kit may contain extraction buffer liquid, but it should not be essential.
- If a test is positive, you should dispose of the swab and the test in the waste bin.
The COVID test kit also contains components for one COVID-19 test. If you are concerned about the risk of contracting COVID, it is essential to take a sample and seek medical advice. The COVID-19 Test Kit by Abbott Laboratories contains sodium azide, a hazardous chemical that should never be disposed of in the sink. The risk associated with this test is unlikely to be high as small amounts of sodium azide are used. The amount of exposure that people will experience from these chemicals is low. The risk from these chemicals is unlikely to exceed 0.1 per cent.
Home Testing Kit Disposal – Learn more about UK business waste statistics here
Other useful links from our Commercial Waste Centre
Is a Waste Service For Small Businesses Right For Your Business?
A Guide to Commercial Food Waste Disposal in the UK
What Products Are Made From Recycled Waste Material?
Remember to Compare Your Business Costs is here to help your business every step of the way from business advice, or saving you time and money on your business purchases such as:
Ally Cox is a dedicated Copywriter and Blogger for CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk. In under two years, the platform achieved the esteemed accolade of ‘Website of the Year’. Since its award-winning debut, Ally has been instrumental in fostering organic growth for the website, expanding its offerings to encompass comparisons across a diverse range of over 20 products to help serve all your business needs.